Pregnant Woman Carried 2 Km in Odisha’s Bolangir, Newborns Die

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

A pregnant woman was carried for two kilometres due to lack of road access.
Two newborn babies died after delivery complications.
Villagers blamed poor infrastructure and healthcare facilities.

Balangiri: A tragic incident from Bolangir district has once again highlighted the poor state of rural connectivity and healthcare infrastructure in remote tribal regions of Odisha.

On May 26, 2026, 20-year-old Seema Dharua of Chacharabhata village under Ghunsar gram panchayat developed labour pain around noon. With no motorable road connecting the remote Koushalpada area, her husband Rohit Dharua and villagers carried her on their shoulders for nearly two kilometres through rough terrain in extreme heat.

Bolangir Pregnant Woman Carried Due to Lack of Roads

According to villagers, no vehicle could reach the area because of the absence of proper roads.

After walking for nearly two kilometres, the family finally reached a point where an ambulance was able to pick her up and shift her to Khaprakhol hospital.

Doctors said Seema delivered a baby there, but the newborn died shortly after birth.

Later, when her health condition deteriorated, she was referred to Patnagarh hospital where she delivered another baby boy. However, the second newborn also died within a few hours.

The second-order effect of poor road connectivity in remote tribal regions often delays emergency healthcare access, increasing maternal and infant mortality risks in vulnerable communities.

Villagers Allege Administrative Neglect

Residents of the area alleged that they had repeatedly appealed to authorities for:

Road construction
Better healthcare access
Drinking water facilities
Improved transport connectivity

However, locals claimed no concrete action was taken despite repeated demands.

The incident has triggered fresh concerns over infrastructure gaps in tribal-dominated pockets where emergency medical transportation remains a major challenge.

Healthcare Access Remains Major Rural Challenge

Remote villages across parts of western Odisha continue to face severe difficulties in accessing hospitals due to poor road infrastructure and inadequate transport systems.

Public health experts say delayed medical intervention during pregnancy complications significantly increases the risk of maternal and infant deaths.

The tragedy in Bolangir is likely to renew pressure on authorities to improve rural healthcare access, emergency transport systems and basic infrastructure in remote tribal regions.

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